Building our Knowledge of the Story Cycle|Legit essays

Theme: Cultural Identity

In the story “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine,” cultural identity is a prominent theme. The story is about a young girl, Lilia, who is trying to understand her own identity as an American of Bengali heritage. Lilia’s family has invited Mr. Pirzada, a family friend from Bangladesh, to dinner every night for several weeks, as he is in the US conducting research.

Throughout the story, Lilia reflects on her family’s cultural traditions and customs, and how they differ from Mr. Pirzada’s. For example, she notes the difference in the way they eat: “My father and I ate with forks and knives, but Mr. Pirzada ate with his right hand, scooping the food onto his fork with his fingers” (p. 111). Lilia is also curious about Mr. Pirzada’s homeland, asking him questions about it and listening intently to his stories.

The theme of cultural identity is used in the story to explore the complexities of living in a multicultural society. Lilia is torn between her American identity and her Bengali heritage, and struggles to reconcile the two. She says, “I wanted to tell Mr. Pirzada that in America it was customary to discard the stem, but I was afraid he would think I was trying to teach him something” (p. 115). Lilia’s hesitation to express herself shows the difficulty of navigating multiple cultural identities.

In conclusion, the theme of cultural identity is an important element of “When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine.” The story highlights the challenges of living in a diverse society and the struggle to reconcile multiple cultural identities. Through Lilia’s experiences, the story encourages readers to embrace and appreciate cultural differences, while also recognizing the challenges of navigating them.